Hobart talks for City Deal

HOBART’S mayors are hopeful the detail of the long-awaited City Deal could be in place before Christmas.

Cities Minister Alan Tudge will today meet with the four Greater Hobart mayors to discuss the City Deal — which is focused on six areas including transport, public housing, and a number of big developments.

GREATER Hobart’s mayors are hopeful they will see the detail of the long-promised federal City Deal by Christmas as new Cities Minister Alan Tudge arrives in Hobart today.

Mr Tudge will meet the mayors of Glenorchy, Clarence, Hobart and Kingborough, plus State Treasurer Peter Gutwein, this afternoon for the first meeting here since Scott Morrison became Prime Minister.

It is understood the Hobart City Deal is now focused on six intertwining areas: transport, including light rail, public housing, University of Tasmania STEM centre, Macquarie Point, the Antarctic Precinct and the Greater Hobart Act — legislation that would force the councils to work together on cross-boundary decisions.

But Mr Tudge is also expected to be grilled on the Federal Government’s refusal to rule out moving the Australian Antarctic Division to Macquarie Point.

Newly-elected Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said he would not be signing up to any deal that risked jobs, with concerns the Government is planning to move the AAD out of the municipality.

He said then environment minister Josh Frydenberg hadn’t responded to Kingborough Council’s letter in July seeking assurances the AAD would not be moved.

Mr Tudge’s office wouldn’t say what would be discussed at today’s meeting when contact- ed by the Mercury last night.

A federal Joint Standing Committee report recommended the Government examine options for the co-location of relevant institutions in the proposed Macquarie Point Antarctic Precinct.

“The loss of AAD from Kingborough would see up to 300 jobs move to the city, on top of around 750 Vodafone employees that were lost in 2015,” Cr Winter said.

“Until the Federal Government categorically rules out moving AAD into the city, 300 local jobs will be under threat.”

Cr Winter said there would be social, economic, rates and traffic congestion impacts if a major employer left the region.

“Rate revenue from the Vodafone site would be around $50,000 per year if it were still operating today — AAD is closer to $150,000 per year,” he said.

He also said it was no coincidence the traffic bottleneck on the Southern Outlet had become worse since Vodafone closed its doors.

“We can’t let the Federal Government take away of the most significant Antarctic research facilities in Australia without putting up a fight.”

Despite assurances from Mr Morrison that the Government remained committed to the City Deal when he was in Tasmania last month, a visit from Mr Tudge is a huge boost for the proposal.

A spokesman for Mr Tudge said there would also be talks about population policy, but no announcements would be made today.